No Rock.. just straight up 'Roll'tober

The excitement of 'Rock'tober this year truly missed the boat with a disappointing lack of good music in Minneapolis this month.  Typically, we get out for a concert every week in Rocktober, but this year we scowered every inch of the City Pages often, desperate to find some band that we could enjoy in a dark, seedy, cramped venue.  Nothing. Nada. Zilch!

But, there was TONS to do when it came to bikes!  From amazing evening rides under beautiful canapoies of firey leaves, cool air commutes, and fast racin', there's been shortage of miles of smiles. 

We started Rolltober up in Cable, WI to celebrate our friends' wedding, complete with pre-wedding group rides along the gravel roads and Seeley Pass.  The temps were cool with a light rain, but we couldn't resist the mountain bikes in the woods on the eve of their wedding.  Mid-ride, the rain turned over into huge, fluffy snow flakes that coated the fall leaves on the side of the trail and made the ride seem almost magical.  It set the mood for a full weekend of celebrating true love, enjoying the Northwoods, and loving the ride.

The following weekend kept the love alive and growing as Jay and I celebrated our 6th year of marriage!  The traditional gift is Candy or Iron.. WTF?  Jay surprised me at Bandit CX on the night of our anniversary by taking me into the woods to our meet spot where some friends mingled about, waiting for the ride to begin.  There, leaning against a tree was a super sweet LaMere CX bike, done up with hot pink Donkey Label tires...'who's bike is that? It's HOT!'... 'It's yours', he said... double WTF?  He had built up my parts from my old cx bike on a brand new frame and decked it out in all hot pink, black, and white!  Pair that with a king size Kit Kat bar and you've got yourself the sweetest anniversary gift ever!

My husband often out does me elaborate gift giving, but this year I think I did okay.  He'd been borrowing Freaky's 1980's Ram Van "Rambling Fever" for a week or two, trying it out as a new race/travel vehicle and working every angle to get me to say okay to buying it.  So, after weeks of pretending I hated it, I gave him a bag filled with delicious chocolates and a picture frame at the bottom of us and the van...





With a poem that read:
Roses are red,
Candy is sweet.
Which Iron horse
Would make your stable complete?



He wasn't confident at first, but he soon realized I was saying 'yes' to him again, this time for the van.  Ahhh, all the new adventures we've yet to find!







And since, we've enjoyed checking out new trails at Theo Wirth (my new favorite!!), evening River Bottom rides with friends, and the final Mtn Bike race of the season down in Red Wing.  With yellow leaves falling like snowflakes on the course, it was an amazing end to the season, making it shockingly aware that I've already missed most of the CX season this year.  Jay's been rippin' it up, but I've been a lil late to jump in with both feet, but I think this weekend finally sealed it...

The course was amazingly fast with perfect off-camber sections in every part of the course, combined with natural berms and lots of room for recovery.  I tried to keep myself reined in and not blow up in a hole-shot move, but I got to the front on the first major curve in the course.  I kept the pace up, but allowed my heart rate to come down, waiting for someone to attack before we hit the first off camber section, but no one came.  So I attacked myself and tried to drop the field in the section that became my favorite over the course of the day.  It worked!  I stayed on the gas lap after lap, not letting myself settle in or catch my breath, forcing myself to go faster when I could.  And I held it for the win!  It was so awesome!

This fall has truly been amazing!  I hope these cool night rides and warm afternoon races don't end for a LONG time because this has been one of the most beautiful autumns yet!  Sure, I've got a HOT new thermal skinsuit from Podiumwear (yet to be revealed), but I can keeps these temps as long as possible.

Rollin' through fall,
Kristy Kreme

Single Speed USA: If you weren't having fun, you were doing it wrong

Last Wednesday, we departed for a week-long adventure up to Copper Harbor, MI for Single Speed USA 2014.  What we hoped for was a damn good time... what we found was the most amazing trip of the year.

We started off with a road trip up to Seve's lil slice of heaven in Minong, WI.  Nestled atop a hill overlooking the Totagatic River with water so clear we could see the ridges of sand at the bottom and large fish as they swam by.  The peacefulness of the location was amplified by the laughter of friends that kept arriving, beers cracked open, and the sound of fresh fish frying on the skillet.

 Camping with the 29nSngl crue is the only way to travel!

 We hit the road the next morning after a tasty breakfast at Flap Jacks, then some interesting photo-opps while grocery shopping....

 We led out the caravan of 8 vehicles with Tim W. at the wheel, Hwood navigating, and me sleeping in the back with my belt.  Only 6 hours to go til we made it to our destination.  The skies were blue, the heat climbed, and the trees got more and more dense as we neared the U.P.

 

Before we left the land of cell coverage, we stopped in Houghton for some food and beers, making sure to leave our mark before we hit the end of the Earth.

Once there, our group split to go set up camp.  Jay, Tim and I shared a lil corner lot in the East Campground and were first to set up.  We jumped on our bikes and headed toward the gravel trail that connected all the campgrounds to town, in search of our 29nSngl buds.  Within 5 ft of jumping on the trail, my front wheel washed out in a gravel/rock turn and I ate $h!t hard.  I ripped open my right knee and elbow and just sat there... stunned, pissed, annoyed.. that side had just healed up from my crit crash in July!  So, I got back on the bike and we found our pals quickly.  The three of us did a short ride out thru a beautiful prairie that led to the trail section called "Downtown" and back for a light spin, then straight to the shower to scrub the &%$# dirt and gravel out of my limbs.  

We laid low that first night, knowing we still had to recover from the previous nite's 2:00am party scene and had much more to come.  We woke around 10:00 Friday morning and headed out for a ride to start checking out the trails which were new to us.  JR hooked us up with the most breath taking trail combo along 'Garden Brook' that we had to ride it twice.  On our return to the campsite, a bee flew into my helmet and I jerked the bars when I attempted to rip off my helmet.. over the bars, flipped into the thistle on my back.  Grrrrrrrrr

So Jay, Tim, Josh, and I found ourselves a sweet little grotto in Lake Superior to rinse off the dander and cool our sore muscles before race night.   Later that night, we headed into town for packet pick-up and the pre-party. Friends from all around were there and the Mpls contingency was strong.  With free beer flowing from the taps and a 16ft wooden teeter totter in the field, it was sure to get rowdy. The only trouble was, that teeter totter was the preliminary round to qualify for the title of SSUSA Champ.. the only way to retain my belt...

I was terrified by the chance of falling off and injuring myself thanks to the Hollywood Hex.. when he'd gone to the UK to defend his SS WORLD Champ title in 2001, he crashed his bike the night before the race and broke his collar bone.  He didn't get the chance to defend his title.  I'd already crashed twice and was a little on edge.

So, to make it easier on my vertigo, Hwood gathered up our THC, 29nSngl, and Twin Six friends to line the teeter totter and catch me if I fell.  "Hold my beer and watch this"... my alter ego "Boozy", donned in the SSUSA belt and "One Bad F'in B!tc#" bikini top, hopped on the rickety old bike and charged for the teeter totter.  I lost speed as I hit the lip of it, but had enough momentum to get to the apex and ride it down the other side!  I howled with my fist in the air once I cleared it, shaking from the adrenaline and excitement of my accomplishment for some 20 min. after.  WINNING!  The rest of the night was a blast with music from the Shindaggers, contests, more beer, and Spinner and I giving our final shouts to the crowd as the current champs.

Riding to the race with the belt in tow

The race/ride morning came fast, and we kitted up for the wild ride ahead of us.. 30+ miles, 3100+ feet of climbing, and the gnarliest trails I'd ever seen.  We started with a 'neutral' roll-out up and around a mine on paved to gravel roads for a few miles before entering the single track.  Still attached to the back of the lead group, I lost contact once we entered the single track and allowed a handful of riders to pass me by in sections I wasn't confident on.  Sections like Garden Brook and Bullwinkle flowed fast through large pines lined with thick ferns and mossy undergrowth.  Ones like Downtown, Paul's Plunge, and On the Edge tested my fortitude.  

And on top of the world, overlooking the Keweenah Mountain side, was a part of 'The Edge' that took my breath away... during the race, I just pulled off the trail and stopped to admire it.  Heck, I did that a lot.. who knows when I'll be back to Cappa Habba, so I might as well take it all in while I can, right?

With the climbing, rocks, and roots that were unrelenting, my back started to give up.  Maybe it was the previous 2 days worth of crashes but, whatever it was, I took my time getting to the finish and trying to take in the beauty and the lessons of the trail as I hunted for the finish.  Sore, tired, and slightly nauseous after the race, I met up with Jay at the finish, grabbed some cold beers, and began to gather our friends for a much needed retreat to our little 612 Grotto in the lake.

There was a mini 'reef' of rocks that nestled about a foot below the water, keeping the water warm and allowing us to sit and cool our aching backs and legs.  We brought music and a couple cases of beer, sharing trail stories and basking in the wonderful warmth of the exceptionally hot day.  It was the most spectacular chunk of time of the entire weekend.  Learning about friends, making new ones, and enjoying the silly childlike jokes of warm spots in the water and seaweed.

 

 #bestdayever

We lounged in the water until our white jersey/shorts tan lines of cyclists began to turn pink and made our way back to camp to ready ourselves for the evening's festivities and final contests.  Unfortunately, Jay and the boys had me convinced they wouldn't start without me since only me and one other woman completed the preliminary round... #famouslastwords.  For those who understand, "Jay-time" has been suspended until further notice.

As we rolled to the park, we saw Fiona riding away with the belt... we missed the derby...  I missed my chance to defend my title.  I was devastated and admittedly unconsolable for an easy 45 min.  It was gone, and there was nothing I could do to change it.

My husband and friends were near enough to try to make it better and somehow only Jorge was the one I'd accept a hug from.  As I tried to process my disappointment and find a way to pull myself out of my funk and not ruin the entire trip, I found a small circle of people starting a drinking game in the afternoon sun.  "Whatcha doin?"  We played a game where only your feet could touch the ground and you had to bend over and pick up an open bottle of whiskey with only your mouth, slam it, and put it back... things were about to get weird.

It wasn't just the "amazing healing power of beer" that helped turn the night around, as my favorite sticker says.. it was the healing power of friends, teammates, and the single speed community that helped wash the salt out of my wounded ego with cans of IPA and shots of jagermeister.  It was the reckless abandon of derbies and games that brought it all back to center... we were here to have fun. Period.

So we raised up our favorite beer coozies and put the F-U in FUN!

Yoga Drinking Games?  Try Down-Dog-Up-Dog-Tandem-Shots!

Once every challenge was bested, we kept having to take it to the next level.  I taught the crowd about butt-crack-primes by starting a derby around a handful of ladies and one young lad who had dollar bills sticking out of the back of their shorts.  

Once the money was gone, we took singles from the crowd and moved the primes into the derby, 612 Mafia style. I may have missed 'the' derby, but the ones we created got rowdy and awesome FAST!  One of the MC's even stopped us to say thanks for bringing the party to the next level.  Dollar Bill Derby = Worst Wedgie Ever!

What we didn't expect was the addition of ketchup to the games.. one guy was spraying us down in the derby with ketchup, making us look like 70's slasher film victims as we rounded the trees lap after lap.  When Tim took the ketchup as a shot, he scared an EMT half to death when he began throwing up a red liquid, but couldn't stop long enough to reassure her that it was just ketchup.

Some of the best photos to sum it up were all caught by one of my fave photogs, Todd Bauer, and the amount of Single Speed debauchery he caught was perfect!  Check out his gallery here.  From late night derbies, awesome beer from Blackrock Brewery (try the IPA!), to the broken teeter totter-picnic table feats of strength, it was a night full of smiles, cheers, and heckling.  For the final contest of the night, the Host City showdown came down to a bucket kick game, where two opponents sat atop a 5 gal. bucket, holding the hands of their opponent, while trying to kick the bucket out from under them.  Seve was the victor, taking the hosting rights once again to win it for Wisconsin!  Third year straight in the upper midwest.. 2015, here we come.

Drunk, exhausted, and trying to follow a straight line, we meandered back to camp to sleep it off before beginning our trek towards home... but first we had to shower off a crap-load of ketchup. #Ihateketchup

Sunday morning, we packed up camp when we woke up and took the scenic route along the lake on our way to Houghton, stopping at Jacobs Falls for a short hike and some beautiful scenery. 

We stopped at Kaleva in Houghton for breakfast and headed straight to Hayward, WI. for the night.  Luckily, we got on the road in time to catch a nice 2 hr ride on the Seeley Pass and some putt putt before settling in for a bonfire with Morgan and Matt.  It was a great way to spend our last night of vacation, filling each other in on all the madness one another had missed during the times we were separated.

We woke to rain in the morning and the campsites beginning to flood, so we packed up quickly and hit the road.  It was fun sitting with the boys, laughing about all the shenanigans and memories we'd made.  We all agreed it had been the best memories of the summer, heck.. the year!  Only 360+ days til we get to do it again.

In the contest of Most Fun Wins, we won with a vengence! 

Countin' down the days to SSUSA 2015, 

Kristy Kreme

The tattoo survived....

When we signed up for Single Speed USA (SSUSA) early in 2013, I turned to Jay and told him I was gonna win it.  Not only that... I was gonna win it and get a sweet tattoo to commemorate it.  Jay, winner of Single Speed Worlds in 2000, has the victor's tattoo.  But in SSUSA, the traveling belt is the trophy.. but who says I couldn't get a tattoo anyway?

Fast forward to summer 2013... I won the belt! (race recap)  I got to emboss my name into it below the previous champions and take it home for a year on top.  Now, what's the tattoo gonna be?  Eleven months later, I gave my favorite tattoo artist Charlie Forbes at Leviticus Tattoo all my inspirations and 1/2 a dozen photos of the belt... what came to be was PERFECT!

What's funny about having a long-time friend as your tattoo artist is the mid-tattoo mini-pranks...

"What if we just stopped now and you can be the 'PEE' USA Champ?"

Nah, keep going!

Now that it's all healed up, it looks so much better than I ever imagined!  My own little homage to an amazing adventure, keeping that belt with me always <3 p="">

Since it's healed, why not jump into the South Side Criterium?  Sunday was a hot and humid day, perfect for sweating the day away on the bike.  This year, they decided to give call-ups to riders in the elite races, and I was honored to get an awesome call-up to the line.  Fifteen strong women towed the line and we redlined immediately off the start when Kelly went for it at the gun.

The first three laps or so we were strung out single-file trying to chase the new U23 National Champ down, careening through the streets of Minneapolis at blazing speeds.  The race came back together, but the pace remained high as other riders attempted to break away and the field rallied to close the gap.

Some lap past the halfway point, the game changed for me.

Luckily, my husband has been an amazing coach over the years and I am strong and confident in the corners.  I had been watching the pack during the race to know who's wheel to stay off of or who slowed in the turns to avoid getting gapped off during the group's surges.  We came out of Turn 2 (base of the hill) and prepped for Turn 3.  The rider in front of me began to slow as we entered Turn 3 so I took the wider right line to avoid braking.  As we exited the turn, the rider I was trying to avoid moved quickly into my lane.  I tried to swerve right to avoid her rear wheel, but she veered to fast and the spokes of my front wheel began to ting off her rear derailleur.

Ting

Ting

I thought I could pull out of it as it unfolded in slow motion...

But I was unable to move to the right fast enough.  My spokes wrapped around the rear derailleur and my front wheel stopped on a dime.  With hands firmly gripping the drops, I flipped over the bars.

From the bruises and road rash on my body to what I can remember, I first hit the pavement with my left lever, knee and hip with enough force to pop out of my pedals.  I flipped onto my right and continued to slide down the road away from my bike.  On my right, butt cheek and shoulder, I slid in slow motion.. I remember staring down at my shoulder and the road thinking "Stop sliding. Stop sliding".

I came to a stop and plopped my head on the ground.  Laying there in the fetal position in the middle of the road, part of me really didn't understand what just happened.  Linsay stopped her race and came to make sure I was okay.  A kind corner marshall helped me hobble to the side of the road as pain in my left knee was the first that came to my attention.  The sat me down as I began to assess the situation.

First thing I checked was my tattoo.  There was no damage to my skinsuit.. touching it didn't hurt.  WHEW!  Now the collar bones.. check!

The knees were scuffed and beginning to bleed.  Both forearms were missing a layer or so of skin.  I could feel the drips running down my arms but I was confused each time I looked not to see any major blood.  It wasn't til later that I realized that I was dripping with sweat!

I stood when I saw Jay come running and inquired about my bike.  Not broken, but the bars had turned 90 degrees, my saddle was sideways, the front wheel didn't turn.  As I inspected the amount of ass-cheek I was missing on the right, Jay did his magic and made my bike work again.  He urged me to ride out the rest of the lap to tell my Dad and Step-Mom that I was okay, then head to the medical tent.

I got back on the bike and waved my thanks to all the fans and volunteers to clapped in encouragement as I gingerly made my way around the course.  As I waved to my family, Jay returned and shouted out "Use your free lap!".  Without a second thought, I pedaled right passed the med tent over to the official and asked it I could finish the race.  They gave me my first ever free lap and inserted me back into the race between the breakaway group and the rest of the field.  I had three or more turns to get back up to speed and shake off the jitters before the group rode up to me and I jumped back into the pack.

The primes were over and there were no major efforts to bring back the breakaway, so I happily stayed in the pack and got back into my comfort zone.  My bike didn't like shifting, so I fought off the anxiety of listening to my gears skipping as we finished the last few laps.  As we geared up for the sprint finish, my bike refused to get into a harder gear so I did everything I could to finish strong.  I ended up 11th overall, 3rd in the Cat 3's.  Wha?!

The adrenaline from the crash kept me riding the waves for a good hour.  The worst of the injuries is probably my missing bum, followed by both forearms, both knees, a swollen and scraped ankle, and bruised hips.  The bike didn't break, but I damaged both shift levers, my right hood & bar tape, and my rear derailleur.  The skinsuit by Podiumwear didn't tear a bit.. maybe thanks to the fact that I was sweatin' buckets.. I just slid across the pavement like a high-speed slug.  Most importantly, during that slow-mo skid, I kept the tattoo off the pavement!

I always knew there was a chance of crashing in a crit, but I'd avoided it for all 6 years of my cycling career.  The biggest thing for me, though, was finishing.  Not only was it important for me to get back in the race and get over any fears that could have built up, but to show myself that I could physically do it!  And maybe a little of the "Half the Road" documentary stuck with me... it felt good to be a positive role-model for every spectator out there that could see that women can do it, we can fall down, and we can persevere.

Now, I guess I'll just take a couple days off to heal before getting on the training wagon for SSUSA 2014!  It's been awesome being Queen Bee for a year, but it doesn't mean I have to give it up without a fight.  Come on butt, heal up!!!

Huge hugs and thanks to Jay, Linsay, Casper, Eric, and the Corner Marshall for getting me off the road,  back on the bike, and bandaged up later.  You all made a scary experience much easier to handle.

Lots of love from Neosporin-Tegaderm-land,
Kristy Kreme

Do one thing a day that scares you... Bikes, Yoga, and Brussels Sprouts

With the long, cold days of winter finally behind us *knock on wood*, it's glorious to finally feel the warmth of the sun on my skin.  It's been so long since I've written, but not for lack of adventures...

Fat bikes, ice racing, and loads of work hours at a new gig helped kept me busy through winter, but the length of it definitely challenged my disposition.  By the end, I was certain I was getting SAD.. desperate for sun and warmth, overwhelmed with snow and shoveling, struggling to take a moment to sit and write.  grrrrr

Luckily, my new gig with lululemon got me experimenting with yoga.  Hot Yoga at Modo was a lifesaver, thawing me out on the cold days and loosening up my body from long hours on the bike.  (So what they say about yoga IS right!)  

Then, outta nowhere, spring sprung!  I went from layering up beyond reason to wearing my Girl Fiend tank everywhere!  I've been taken over by an extreme desire to be outside and stay there.  We've gotten out the mtn bikes, hit the time trials, and Tuesday night criteriums. Phenomenal racing with a growing Girl Fiend Cycling Team has been amazing!

And the newest adventure, commuting to the mall via bike, has been amazing and so therapeutic.  Jay laid out 2 great routes for me to get to the mall from home or the bike shop where the traffic is minimal and I'm granted the peace and quiet to sort of meditate along my ride.  The splendor of nature that I find along the way as I pass through Fort Snelling State Park, meandering along the river, taking in the birds, deer, and one massive turtle has helped alleviate the winter depression that had set in.

Have bike... will ride... and explore.
Rode to a new yoga studio to try Ashtanga for the first time
Trust your husband's verbal directions on new bike route to work
Commuting to work in my awesome Girl Fiend/Podiumwear team kit because I just love it!
Rode with the ladies and finished with a private yoga class at the shop with the lovely Lisa Hobson!
Took a two week meditation course
Tried brussel sprouts & kale for the first time.. and liked it!
Took an aerial yoga workshop (so dizzy, but so fun)
Planted flowering vines from seeds for the first time
Took a Visual Merchandising class through work
Completed my first drive train overhaul at the bike shop
Tried a spin class for the first time (I was the only one who left bleeding #fail)
....

Although I haven't been writing, I've had lots of adventures, big and small.  They say "Do one thing a day that scares you" and I've tried to as often as I can.  Trying new activities, new foods, exploring new places... enjoying the journey of finding new things that delight me and make my day better to balance stress and struggles.  It's been up and down, sideways and up-side down.

It's a personal challenge to keep myself on the path that brings me joy rather than one that meets expectations.  But this life affords me time and energy to enjoy great things... like warm summer bike rides with my closest friends.  Tuesday night was fantastic.. I got to ride with Sarah and Teresa on a warm night, meandering through Minneapolis with no direction in mind.  We found ourselves at the Stone Arch Bridge and took a few minutes to stop and enjoy the magnitude of the rushing water below.

 

We finished the ride with beers and snacks as we watched the sunset as we got to catch up on life.  We didn't want the night to end but getting across town without lights kept us on task.  It's the relationships and memories that we create that truly make life better!

It's just so amazing to live in such an area that I can get around on my bicycle, explore new things, enjoy time with the best people around!  The only bummer is that there's so much fun to choose from, that household chores kiiiinda get neglected. #wearittwice Yeah... we're the people who's Christmas tree is still up!  But, to my defense, it's only 18" tall and easy to overlook on the end table it sits on..  Heck, maybe we're just ahead of the game this year, eh?

Either way, I'm low on regrets and flush with stories.  Sounds like a good way to roll to me.  So, the big question no is:  What scary thing to take on next?

Feelin' Courageous,
Kristy Kreme

froZEN with my friends

To kick off yet another chilly spell in MinneSO-Friggin-Cold-duh, I spent Friday night getting uber sweaty with some of my favorite gals at Modo Yoga in Uptown.  Having only been going to hot yoga classes for a month or so, I discovered a fast addiction to sweating and stretching in the 105 degree room.  And, completely contrary to expectations with dozens of sweaty bodies in the same room, it's such a peaceful, odor-free, and relaxing environment with dim lights, gentle sounds, and instructors that lead you in your practice in a challenging and forgiving way.

This night, Teresa and Morgan joined me for the Friday night Karma class to support a friend's foundation that puts together for Twin City's homeless residents.  The class was HOT and the sounds of sweat hitting my mat as we did our first forward fold were loud and welcome as I watch the rivers run down my arms.  Shannon led us through a great practice and we left the class limber, lighter, and with relaxed.  To 'rehydrate' after class, we met Hwood & Matt at Burger Jones for some bevvies and grub to close out the night.  As well as the burger smell overpowered our detoxed state, the sounds of laughter and friendships binding tighter drowned out the existence of all other patrons.

As the night drew to an end, we parted ways to celebrate the next day's chills in our favorite ways... Me & Hwood - we took on the Lake Mtka Ice Race!  Morgan and Matt excited us in their attendance and constant cheers once the race was underway.  Heck, high of 5 degrees? Ignore the windchill... just wear another layer.  Sadly, the uber cold temps kept the attendance lower than normal but the event was top-notch as always.  Once the Elite Men's / Women's Open race toed the line, I was a little bummed out to find myself as the only chica with the cold-weather-cahones this year.  Oh well, there were still more than a dozen boys to try to beat, right?!

Once it began, I tried to secure a good position in the pack as we charged down the first straightaway in the pinky of the "Metal" hand course.  I got into the middle of the pack and pretended that the guys chasing me were my toughest female competitors on the ice... Kristi, Patti, and Danielle.  Run, baby, run!

The 45 min. race was gonna be tough as the cold wind drifted the snow across the shoveled, icy course.  Thankfully, Podiumwear makes AMAZING winter apparel, so I had every inch of skin covered in awesome Girl Fiend gear and stayed warm considering the conditions.  With every turn, I pedaled on, trying to push the limits of my home-made studded tires. I wasn't just gonna take the win without digging deep into my reserves and forcing myself to go faster.

With a few laps to go, my internal thermometer was inching up and I removed my neck cozy from my face to cool my core and increase my oxygen intake.  Not one lap later, the headwind bit hard at my cheeks and I was stunned to find my neck cozy had frozen into a solid, fabric mask when I recovered my face.  Attacking my imaginary opponents til the final turn, I was exhausted and elated as I crossed the line for the win that I joyfully shared with my hubby who went out hard and never let up, sealing our second husband & wife victory at the Lake Mtka Ice Race. :)

We were warmly welcomed in the park building with tasty burgers, dogs, and beers and friends.  It was so hard to leave after all the fun and laughs that filled the building began to fade, but the couch and some cozy blankets were calling our names.

Come Sunday morning, we refueled with family over a tasty brunch, inside from the increasing winds as the latest frigid blast moved into MN.  The food was warm, tasty, and it was great to celebrate my Dad's, step-mom's and step-sis's birthday over mimosas and bloody's.

To keep things interesting, I got to attend my first (and probably only) event at the Minikahda Country Club via our lululemon holiday party in the Paddle House.  We had awesome food from Brassa and cold beers and Sangria to top it off.  It was so much fun to finally get to know my knew coworkers better, enjoying stories away from the store and laughing as we played Cards Against Humanity and were challenged to play outside in spite of the negative 21 degree windchills.

Although part of me wanted to bail due to the temps, my love for trying new things layered up on the clothing and headed outside with my friends to try out Paddle Tennis outside on their heated courts.  It was so much fun!  I laughed my ass off as I biffed on a huge swat of the paddle, or as Kyle sent the ball souring out of the fences and into a snowbank. As the minutes ticked by, I was baffled by my dwindling motor skills and screaming backside... I think I was literally freezing my ass off out there!  I only made it some five minutes before I had to call it a night, just as Jay & Rosco drove up to take me home in a warm car.  We hugged our goodbyes and I headed home with my boys to close out yet an another amazing weekend with my loved ones, taking on new challenges and exploring new avenues of joy.

Meditation. Sweat. Laughter. Pain. FroZen. Joy. Love.

Finding Zen in any way I can,
Kristy Kreme

Gettin' Fat in '14

Last year, Hwood created a monster... he got me a fat bike.  We rode all winter.  And, when the temps got below 20, we bought goggles... below 10, added a layer... negative 5?  Hot pads in the boots and stayed deep in the woods & out of the wind.  Yep, it was awesome!  No more of that lazy, bon bon eatin', beer drinking winter months, loading up on chips and unwanted lbs.... we stayed fit and STRONG!  It totally blew me away come spring when I had the strength and stamina to master spring training rides with Ronnie, Timmer, and the crue.

So, once the snow started to fall, my bike beckoned me from the rafters... it's beautiful out... all you need is a base layer... don't you miss your goggles?  I have pink rim tape... go show the boys a thing or two...

Unfortunately, and unbalanced work-life and another bout with the flu kept us from playing much before the holidays, but that was soon to change.  We got out of the house a couple weekends ago to take on the Elm Creek trails for the first time at the Frozen Frolic (fat bike time trial).  The temps were cool and the wind brisk, making me second-guess my layering skills multiple times.  Luckily, our sponsor and awesome clothing supplier, Podiumwear, also specialized in ski clothing!  With their jacket, hat, ear warmers, neck cozy, and ski pants on, I stayed warm and dry from start to finish. Thanks, Podiumwear!  Love your gear!

We were able to sneak out for a couple miles before race start and try to learn a bit of the course.  The trail was amazing, well-packed, and had some killer flow!  We were allowed to self-seed at the start and I found a gap in the guys and jumped in.  Within a few miles, I caught my 15 sec rabbit, but a slight dab of the foot on the turn let him get away.  I tried to stay on the gas hard, trying to stay ahead of the women I knew were lined up somewhere behind me - Kris & Martha, two amazingly talented riders.

The trail undulated through the trees with enough elevation to make me work hard for it, and enough descents to provide ample recovery time. From my love of time trials, I found calm and excitement in the sound of my breath intertwined with the snow crunching beneath my Surly tires.  Winding, weaving around trees, allowing my rear wheel to float through the turns, pedaling, climbing, stay in front.

I kept on the gas for 10 miles and was exhausted as I crossed the finish.  Once the results were tallied, I found out that I won my first fat bike race!  Martha and Kris were close in their times, so I know I still have a lot of work to do, but they were such great competition that they had me running scared the whole time.  Love you gals!

So, what comes next?  The chicken eats eggs for breakfast and heads out to yet another fat bike race!

We followed up the next weekend with "Get Phat with Pat", put on by Pat, owner of Penn Cycle and the one I got my sweet 9Zero7 fat bike from.  Held down at the River Bottoms in Bloomington, we were in for a great treat... oh yeah, plus four inches of fresh powder to contend with.  Lucky for us, they busted ass to make the race great and packed down the course with a snowmobile before the event.

I lined up with the boys & gals of the elite race and readied myself for the flat road rollout.  Looking at the huge talent toeing the line, I knew it was gonna go out fast and hard, so I tried to prep myself to dig deep for the intro in an attempt to get good positioning in the single track.  The race started and I tried to tuck into the slipstream of anyone I could, holding on for the 1st half of the road but missed the gap to the chase group and found myself solo in between the leaders and the rest of us.

We hit the single track and I quickly found one gal off her bike in the deep snow that lined the narrow track (one I hadn't seen before), and knew I had to give it all.  I passed her and another rider within the first couple miles and made the first turn in the course when I saw a red arrow painted in the snow.  As I pedaled forth, my mind second-guessed me... did you see a second arrow?  In a panic, I turned around and found a second arrow.. WTF?  I hung around for 10 seconds or so until Martha came upon the seen.  We chatted and voted on following the first arrow - good choice! - and found ourselves back on course.  But my mind now took over... you just lost 10 sec. lead you had....GO!!!  

So, at every moment I could find speed, I took it.  When the ruts in the snow split, I tried to choose the best one.  When the course was hard packed like concrete, I was out of my saddle, punching hard and trying to get away.  Clumsy, I would slip any time I attempted to look over my shoulder and gauge my lead, so I quit looking and rode.  Into lap two, I struggled a bit in the first section of single track.. maybe it was fatigue setting in.. maybe I was flying even though I felt slower.. keep attacking... keep going!

Once I hit the final 180 and settled in for the last few miles to the finish, some sort of Jedi focus settled in.  Breathe in, pedal, breathe out, pedal, lean, pedal, breathe, coast, turn, pedal.  The trees around me melted into a blur as my eyes were deadset on the trail in front of me.  As I rode under a beautiful canopy of branches coated with fresh powder, I took a moment to dream of taking a photo of it and locked it into memory.

Leaving the single track and dancing on my pedals to the finish line, I left every ounce of power I had on the trail.  Collapsing at the line, Jay grabbed my bike and tried to help me as all the energy drained from my legs.  I did it - I held them off for my 2nd win... now how am I gonna find the energy to go to work tonight?  It was amazing and I still can't believe it all happened so fast and was so much fun!

With exhausted legs the next morning, I chose only to watch the next day's fat bike race but bailed on that when my husband decided not to ride. We headed home where he retreated to the couch for Broncos time and I headed out with Sarah and Tessy for a chilly urban ride on my skinny tires to help make a winter cycling film for Nice Ride MN.  We set out for an hour ride - a perfect pace and distance to spin out my lactic acid-ridden legs.  Although the wind had a chill to it, the warmth of my company distracted from the bite in my cheeks. 

When we finally stopped to part ways, I was stopped by the stunning collection of snow on my rear wheel.... so pretty in the sunset.  I was exhausted when I returned home, but completely understood the fatigue when the clock revealed the ride had gone three hours long.  Oh how time flies when you're having fun!

Riding outside in the winter is one of my most favorite things to do... it's crisp and cold, it's a great way to view the splendor of winter and breathe in the fresh air, and it gets me off the couch and away from the tv.  Ride a trainer - please, NO!  Tonite, unfortunately, Jay's bringin' home the trainers and making us ride... ewwww!  But, we've gotta get these legs in shape for the ice race!!!!  One of the first 10 races I ever did was an ice race and it's a sick passion for me.. Can't wait!!!

If you haven't taken your cycling life outside in the winter, I urge you to try it.. it's amazing!  Just be safe and prepare for the temps appropriately!  It'll make the experience that much better.

Making faces at the trainer in my living room,
Kristy Kreme